Private farmer decision tool

45Z Net Return Engine

Estimate field-level feedstock CI, then decide whether a low-CI grain program improves farm return versus the best normal marketing alternative. The target is profit, not the lowest possible carbon score.

CI estimate boundary. GrainIQ provides a private planning estimate based on available user inputs and USDA FD-CIC methodology. This is not an official USDA, Treasury, IRS, buyer, verifier, or tax determination. The USDA FD-CIC tool and applicable federal guidance remain the controlling sources for official CI scoring and 45Z eligibility.
Private by default. 45Z calculations, CI estimates, premium models, buyer offers, field-level economics, proof readiness, and recommendations stay inside this 45Z decision-support area. They are not included in FarmBridge reports and are not shared unless the farmer explicitly generates a 45Z report.
Access and module sync

Choose the planning tier to preview what GrainIQ can pull from existing modules. Free users can still run a manual estimate.

Crop, buyer, and market inputs

Enter the premium offer and the fallback elevator economics. The engine compares net dollars after participation, verification, practice, yield-risk, freight, storage, and opportunity costs.

General per-bushel cost of being in the 45Z program.
Cost of proving the grain qualifies.
Cost of changing practices to improve CI.
Expected value of possible yield drag or agronomic risk.
Value of marketing flexibility you may give up.
Optional safety cushion for uncertainty.
Field-level CI estimate

Inputs mirror the planning categories a farmer would assemble for FD-CIC readiness: crop, acres, yield, tillage, cover crop, nitrogen intensity, inhibitor, manure, fuel/energy, and proof status.

USDA reference version used: USDA FD-CIC reference methodology: 2025 planning workbook structure.
Estimated CI warning. GrainIQ provides a private planning estimate based on available user inputs and USDA FD-CIC methodology. This is not an official USDA, Treasury, IRS, buyer, verifier, or tax determination.
45Z demand risk

Strong premiums still need committed demand. This score warns when the farm is relying too heavily on uncommitted premium revenue.

Operational improvements

Recommendations are ranked by farmer net return after cost, yield risk, timing, proof burden, and reversibility, not by CI reduction alone.

Assumptions and boundaries

The assumptions below keep the engine anchored to farmer net return instead of carbon-score maximization.

USDA reference version used: USDA FD-CIC reference methodology: 2025 planning workbook structure. Saved scenarios and generated reports preserve this version.
Assumption warning. GrainIQ provides a private planning estimate based on available user inputs and USDA FD-CIC methodology. This is not an official USDA, Treasury, IRS, buyer, verifier, or tax determination. The USDA FD-CIC tool and applicable federal guidance remain the controlling sources for official CI scoring and 45Z eligibility.
Lower CI is not automatically better.A practice only helps if the premium and market access exceed cost, yield risk, timing risk, documentation burden, and logistics.
Premiums are not automatically profitable.The offer must clear the minimum acceptable premium after verification, trucking, storage, opportunity cost, and risk reserve.
Traditional grain marketing remains the benchmark.The best normal elevator/storage alternative controls the recommendation whenever it produces stronger net return or certainty.
No automatic external use.45Z calculation data is not included in FarmBridge and is not sent to buyers, advisors, verifiers, or reports without explicit farmer action.
45Z report generator

Generate private 45Z reports from this engine only. Reports are not sent to FarmBridge and are not shared unless the farmer chooses to share the generated report.

Report CI warning. Any CI shown in these reports is a GrainIQ private planning estimate only, not a certified, final, official, guaranteed, USDA, Treasury, IRS, buyer, verifier, or tax determination.
Private snapshot

Saving here records a farmer-owned planning snapshot. It does not create a buyer packet, FarmBridge report, or external disclosure.